Zany children's production parodies classic fairy tales

Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 7, 2013 at 12:35 PM

Mother Goose meets Monty Python in the latest production by Columbus Children's Theatre. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Talesis based on the 1992 book by Jon Scieszka and features a twisted mashup of 10 familiar children's stories. The titles include The Boy Who Cried "Cow Patty," Little Red Riding Shorts and Jack's Bean Problem.

Ken Gordon, The Columbus Dispatch

Mother Goose meets Monty Python in the latest production by Columbus Children’s Theatre. T he Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Talesis based on the 1992 book by Jon Scieszka and features a twisted mashup of 10 familiar children’s stories.

“We’re dealing with well-known stories that have just gone a little wrong,” director Ryan Scarlata said.The hourlong play features 16 actors performing 36 different characters, so quick costume changes (and at least one not-quite-complete change) are the norm.

The show includes about 10 songs but isn’t a musical.

The madcap atmosphere includes an opening number called The Opening Song and features the outline of a familiar tune (Handel’s Messiah) but with a gospel-funk sound and different lyrics.

A rap is also included.

Even the set is designed to bolster the theme. When discussing ideas with the set designer, Scarlata said he wanted something “in each of these stories where if we had a car and crashed it into the stage, what would it look like?”

Trying to manage the zaniness is Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk fame, who narrates the stories and grows frustrated when none turn out right.

Jack is played by Hayden Elefante, 10, a fifth-grader at Johnnycake Corners Elementary School in the Olentangy district.

“I’m trying to make a play so I can keep away from the giant, who wants the story to end so he can get to me,” Hayden said. “I like this role because I get to interact with all the characters, and I don’t have to be offstage much — only a couple times.”

One of those with whom he interacts is the Red Hen, who keeps interrupting Jack to insist that she should be the narrator.

“Every other day, it seems, Ryan is adding a new place in the show where I pop out,” said Allison Walker of Columbus, who plays the Red Hen. “I have to have a cheat sheet so I can remember which door to pop out of. And I have to do it with a chicken butt attached to me.”

In his first major role, Hayden carries the show, Scarlata said.

“He has a face made of rubber, I think,” he said. “He has a billion different faces. He’s really hysterical.”

And underneath the zaniness is a lesson.

“I want the young people in the audience to think about how, by changing small elements in a familiar story, you can create something new,” Scarlata said. “Maybe that will inspire their own creative writing, to kind of play around with ideas.”